The wild reindeer in Norway are struggling to reproduce. Never before have so few calves been counted in Knutshø, one of the wild reindeer areas. And the trend is negative in many areas – a reason for great concern.
Aerial counting of calves. This year the result was disappointing, as here in Snøhetta. Photo credit: Roy Andersen, Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre.
Wild reindeer calves are counted annually in almost all 24 wild reindeer areas in Norway, as part of the quality standard for wild reindeer. With only a few exceptions, this year's numbers are alarming.
In Knutshø wild reindeer area, only 34 calves per 100 females/young animals were found, qualifying for a code red according to the quality standard (poor ecological quality). Two years ago, the code was yellow (medium quality) in the same area.
- These results are only exacerbating an already alarming trend. Unfortunately, we don’t have a clear answer to why the numbers are so low, it is most likely a combination of several factors. It is therefore crucial that we acquire more knowledge, says senior researcher Brage Bremset Hansen at the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA).
Parasites, disturbances, climate change and predators
There are several hypotheses as to what negatively affects the wild reindeer. In some areas, populations are impacted by parasites originating from large numbers of sheep on summer pasture. In others, they have challenges related to disturbances, infrastructure and tourism. Climate change is another factor that most likely plays a role.
In the Dovre mountain region, calf production was generally poor, including a code red for the sub population in the western part of Snøhetta, according to the quality standard. As a result, the Government banned all hunting this year, as the number of wild reindeer in Norway mainly is regulated by hunting. Locally though, many believe that natural predators, mainly wolverines, play a role.
International responsibility
The last viable populations of wild mountain living reindeer in Europe are only found in 24 more or less isolated areas in Southern Norway, putting a particular international responsibility to conserve this species on Norway. As a response to this, the Government decided in 2016 to initiate the development of an environmental quality standard for wild reindeer areas as a tool to safeguard the species. In 2023, an expert group led by NINA presented the last of two status reports of the wild reindeer areas according to the quality standard, where ecological standard is shown as good (green), medium (yellow) or red (bad).
Learn more about the classification system for wild reindeer in Norway (summary in English): Environmental quality standard for wild reindeer
Learn more about current status of wild reindeer and recent policy developments: Code red and yellow for Norway's wild reindeer
Contact: Brage Bremseth Hansen